Kinston gets first loss of season

The Hawks handed top-seeded Kinston its first loss Tuesday in 3-2 victory.

Keith Spence / Correspondent

It took an entire half, but North Lenoir finally proved how dangerous a team can be when its back is against the wall.

Trailing 2-0 at intermission and staring at a potential second straight playoff-killing loss, the Hawks turned up the steam in the second half and rallied for a 3-2 victory over first-place Kinston Tuesday at Viking Field.

The defeat was also the first for the Vikings (10-4-1, 6-1) in Eastern Carolina 2A Conference play.

NL (4-7-2, 4-3) remained solidly in line for the league’s third and final playoff berth behind Kinston and Greene Central.

“We’re making our playoff push so it’s now or never,” NL coach Donnell Garris said. “We have games on three consecutive days, and we need to be playing our best soccer if we want to wrap up the third spot.”

The Hawks certainly played some of their best soccer over the final 40 minutes against rival Kinston.

After spotting the Vikings a 2-0 lead on a pair of Robert Blake goals and Nicolas Romero assists, NL came out with a vengeance in the second half.

The Hawks intensified the pressure and totally dominated, although it took 18 minutes for their hard work to come to fruition.

Right-footed midfielder Andy Garcia dribbled down the left side after a nifty pass from older brother Uziel and beat Kinston goalie Matthew Burwell to get NL on the board in the 58th minute.

“It was about that time I started to see some fatigue from our guys,” said Kinston coach Joseph Romig, whose team was extended into overtime before knocking off Goldsboro on Monday. “No excuses because we got beat, but it’s tough to play overtime and then come right back the next night with an intense game against a big rival.”

The Hawks were definitely the fresher team over the final 22 minutes.

Michael Bednarz tallied the equalizer of an assist from Braxton Greene in the 66th minute, and then Andy Garcia drilled home the deciding goal after a perfect 40-yard direct free kick by Bednarz with just five minutes remaining in standard time.

“Andy was sensational in the second half,” Garris said. “He ran hard and did a great job of finding space. The team as a whole finally played like I knew they were capable. We played North Lenoir soccer in the last 40 minutes.”

Garcia even had a chance to add an insurance goal when he was taken down by Burwell in the final minute, but his penalty kick sailed wide left.

Kinston’s scoring chances were few and far between once they built the lead.

Evan Hood’s kick from 18 yards away in the 76th minute could have tied the score but caromed off the top post.

In the 69th minute, Blake laced a superb crossing pass that no Vikings were in position to receive and the ball bounced harmlessly out of bounds.

“We got a little lazy,” Romig said. “I know we were tired, but North Lenoir also played a game Monday, although it didn’t go into overtime. We’ve had trouble putting teams away all season, and that was the case tonight. We let off the gas and they took advantage.”

The road doesn’t get any easier for either team, both of whom will play their third game in three days on Wednesday.

The Hawks travelled to South Lenoir, while Kinston visited two-loss Greene Central in a showdown for first place.

“Greene Central had the day off so they’ll be rested,” Romig said. “We’re just going to have to put this one aside and dig down deep within ourselves because it’s going to be a battle.”